Capita's school IT wing is on the naughty step after putting teachers and administrators through to advertisements for adult chat lines.

Anyone trying to get through to the support helpdesk for the Capita School Information Management System in the last few days has instead been transferred to wrong numbers, including some XXX-rated chat, a Reg reader reported.

"We are aware that there has been an intermittent problem with our phone lines which has resulted in some callers on hold experiencing interference from other lines," Phil Neal, MD at Capita SIMS told The Register in a statement.

"We are taking the matter very seriously and are currently working with our telecommunications providers to find a resolution as soon as possible. We would like to apologise to any caller who has experienced this issue."

A Capita SIMS spokesperson told El Reg: "As far as we are aware, no call has been routed through to an adult chat line.

"In the small number of cases that we are aware of, callers have experienced what appears to be a ‘crossed-line’ where, while on the line with our service desk, they heard an advertisement mentioning an adult chat line." ®